Following an acclaimed appearance aboard Crystal Serenity this summer, one of the United States’ most notable figures will rejoin Crystal’s travel savvy guests to share his inspiring stories, this time aboard the company’s 62-guest super yacht. NASA Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly will join Crystal Esprit’s December 13, sailing round-trip from Dubai, ready to regale travelers with accounts from his record-breaking year in space.

Captain Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly’s historic mission in space included NASA’s groundbreaking twin study, in which his brother, Captain Mark Kelly, served on the ground as a control model in an unprecedented experiment to understand how space affects the human body. Over his 20-year career with NASA, Scott Kelly has earned the coveted position as America’s first year-round astronaut. Prior to space travel, he served 25 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as an experienced aviator and decorated Captain.

“We are honored to welcome Captain Kelly back to Crystal, as our guests are well-traveled, inquisitive global citizens who will most certainly relish learning about his remarkable career and explorations,” says Edie Rodriguez, Crystal CEO and president. “Crystal Esprit’s intimate setting will offer a particularly enriching atmosphere, as guests can mingle closely with the captain as well as enjoy the riveting discussions inspired by his presentations.”

Crystal Cruises is the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™, having earned more “World’s Best” accolades than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort in history. Crystal Cruises has won “World’s Best Cruise Ship” in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards for 22 years; been voted “World’s Best Large Ship Cruise Line” by Travel + Leisure readers for 20 years; and the “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by Virtuoso for three-consecutive years (2014, 2015 & 2016). In summer 2015, Crystal embarked on the most significant brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, introducing three new classes of cruising – the recently launched Crystal Yacht Cruises (December 2015), Crystal River Cruises (July 2016) the “World’s Only Luxury River Cruise Line,” Crystal Exclusive Class Ocean Cruises (Fall 2019), Crystal Luxury Air (April 2016) and Crystal AirCruises (2017).